The small island province of PEI packs a big punch when it comes to hiking opportunities. There is history, a diverse geography, and villages rich with culture. Gayle Laws, a Burlington resident and hike leader for the Iroquoia Club has been to PEI leading hiking trips there many times. In July 2025, she will again be leading a group hike in Prince Edward Island with 15 others on behalf of tour operator DeLuxe Hiking. Many people are surprised at the number of trails along the coast and the interior, says Gayle. If fact, the interior trails are quite similar to the Bruce Trail because of the hills.

The whole island is blessed with many rail trails from the era when steam engines were a preferred mode of transport. Because the island is relatively small, you can easily plan your hiking adventures from a home base such as Summerside, Gayle says.  The Confederation Trail runs tip-to-tip across Prince Edward Island. The main trail is 273 kilometres from west to east – Tignish to Elmira. Branch trails run through small towns and communities including the heart of Charlottetown.

For many tourists the highlight of hiking in PEI is the Greenwich Trail, which is 4.6 one-way trail and features beautiful beaches and sand dunes, a floating boardwalk and marshlands, says Gayle. She also recommends the North Cape, a 5.1-km out-and-back trail near Seacow Pond. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of one hour to complete. This is a popular trail for birding, hiking, and walking.

The Island is so rich in history that you must do a little bit of sightseeing on the Island, discovering its rich Scottish, Indigenous and Acadian roots. Charlottetown is the birthplace of Canada’s Confederation and is not to be missed, she says.